Fluid proof multiple connector



Sept- 6, 1966 A. I.. NELSON 3,271,727

FLUID PROOF MULTIPLE CONNECTOR INVENTCR. ARTHUR L. NELSON ATroR/I/Evs Sept. 6, 1966 A. L.. NELsoN 3,271,727

FLUID PROOF MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 77 85"74 8' 8O Sgh-7 64 68 67 56 69 49 55 l I l l l l l I l l INVENTOR. ARTHUR L. NELSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,271,727 FLUID PROOF MULTIPLE CONNECTOR Arthur L. Nelson, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Winsco Instruments 81 Controls Company, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,250

12 Claims. (Cl. 339-60) This applica-tion is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application, Serial No. 265,881, led March 18, 1963, and entitled Electrical Connector and now abandoned.

This invention relates to electrical connecting and disconnecting devices and more particularly to a novel multiple connector for enabling connection and disconnection between several insulated wires in a fluid proof manner such -as underwater.

In my co-pending continuation-in-part application, Serial No. 490,256, filed September 27, 1965, and entitled Fluid Proof Connector, there is disclosed and claimed in considerable detail a novel connector which enables two or more wires to be electrically connected underwater or in other liquid or even gaseous environments, the connection itself being completely fluid proof and maintained in a clean and dry condition. These advantagesare realized essentially by providing an elongated plug and cooperating socket so designed that as the plug is inserted into the socket, the surface of the plug functions to wipe the interior wall of the socket free of all liquid and moisture, prior to effecting 4an actual electrical connection between one or more contacts embedded, respectively, in the plug and interior wall of the socket.

There are many instances, however, in which it would be desirable to provide a fluid proof connector for effecting multiple connections; that is, connections between more than simply Vtwo conductors. While such is achieved with an underwater connector as described in the abovementioned co-pending patent application by simply adding further plug contacts longitudinally along the elongatedy plug portion itself and providing additional socket contacts in the interior wall of the sockets spaced along the wall in corresponding longitudinal positions, there is still a limitation on the number of contacts that can be accommodated on the elongated plug and still be properly insulated from each other.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid proof connector in which multiple connections be- :tween several wires may be effected substantially simultaneously without having to provide a large number of longitudinally spaced contacts on any one plug or in any one socket.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fluid proof multiple connector particularly useful underwater in which ltactual means are provided on the plug and socket bodies to enable indexing of the bodies by feel to a rotative position such that proper insulated wires in the plug body are connected to proper insulated wires in the socket body during an underwaterpconnecting operation.

Still another object is to provide in combination with an improved underwater multiple connector means for effectively locking the plug body to the socket body so that the same cannot be inadvertently pulled apart after a connection has been made.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a plug body having at least two elongated plugs extending in spaced parallel relationship and each being of substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout substantially its length. Suitable plug contacts having surface portions exposed in substantially flush relationship respectively with ICC the exterior surfaces of the plugs intermediate their ends are electrically connected within the plug body to suitable insulating wires extending from the plug body. A cooperating socket body includes two or more elongated sockets also of uniform cross-sectional area corresponding substantially to the lengths and cross-sectional areas of the plugs, are positioned to receive the plugs respectively in snug relationship. These sockets include socket contacts embedded in the interior walls and having surface portions exposed at areas intermediate the ends of the sockets. The socket contacts are connected respectively to insulated wires extending from the socket body.

With the foregoing arrangement, the plugs may be urged into the respective sockets and multiple electrical connections effected through the respective contacts of the plugs and sockets. Since each of the elongated plugs as well as its corresponding elongated socket is designed in accordance with the principles described in the abovementioned co-pending patent application, all of the various advantages of balanced pressure, water tightness, and a clean wiping of the contacts prior to electrical connection are realized.

A feature of the invention includes the provision of indents on the exterior surface of the plug and socket bodies such that by tactual means, their orientation can be determined prior to plugging the same together so that proper ones of the plugs will be received in proper sockets. Also provided is a polarizing pin to facilitate alignment of lthe plugs with the sockets after an initial rotational orientation has been elfected.

In accord with a modified design for the plug and socket body, there may be employed in combination suitable collar structures for encircling and holding the plug and socket body together once electrical connections have been made.

A better understanding of the foregoing as well as further features and advantages lof the present invention will be had by now referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of a plug and socket body connected together to effect multiple wire connections;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of the plug and socket bodies in separated condition, certain portions being shown in full lines;

`FIGURE 3 is an end view o-f the plug body taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end View of the socket body taken in direction -of the arrows 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

IFIGURE 5 is a perspective view of Ia modified plug and socket body ydesign in connected position for eecting multiple connections between two pairs of insulated wires;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section of the plug and socket bodies of FIGURE 5 in separated position;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the plug body taken in the direction of the arrows 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

AFIGURE 8 is an end view of the socket body taken in the direction of the arrows y8 8 of FIGURE 6; and,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of novel coupling collars for securing the plug and socket bodies of FIG- URES 5-8 together.

Referring iirst to FIGURE 1, there is shown a plug body 10 connected to a socket body 11 at the division line 12. As shown, the plu-g body 10 includes a plurality of insulated wires comprised of insulation 13 and individual wire conductors 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 extending therefrom. The socket body 111 in turn includes a lateral -oifset portion 20 from which a plurality of insulated Iwires comprised of insulation 21 and individual wire conductor-s 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 extend. Visible also as a part of the plug body 10 is a polarizing 3 pin 28 and indexing key 219 protruding from the left end of the socket body 11.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that the plug body includes a plural-ity of elongated plugs 30, 3'1, 312, 33, 34, and 35 @FIGURE 3). These plugs extend in parallel spaced relationship to each other from the remaining porti-on of the plug body 10, thus defining an annular peripheral shoulder 36. Each of the plugs is of given cross-sectional area throughout substantially its entire length and in the embodiment illus- `trated, this cross-sectional area is circular.

The various contacts and electrical connections with the insulated wires in the plug body 10 are identical for each of the elongated plugs 30 through 35 and therefore detailed description of one will suffice for all. Thus, referring to the elongated plug 30 of FIGURE 2, there is provided a rigid conductor 37 embedded Iin ythe plug throughout a major portion of its length. As shown, the rig-id conductor 37 includes an enlarged central portion ydefining a first plug contact 38 having an exposed peripheral surface extending entirely about the plug. This peripheral surface is cylindrical and is, as shown, substantially fiush with the remaining exterior surface of the elongated plug. The righthand end of the rigid conductor 37 extends within the major portion of the plug body 10 and serves 4the dual function of providing rigidity to the plug 30 and also connecting the contact 38 with its corre-sponding insulated wire, all as set forth and fully described with respect to the single elongated plug structure in the above referred .to co-pending application.

The various `ot-her elongated plugs, as indicated, are also connected respectively to the various insulated wires within the insulation 13.

Referring now to the cross-sectional view of the socket body 11, it will be noted that the center of the body includes an elongated pin receiving opening 319 including a keyway 40 for cooperation with the pin `28 and indexing key 29 of the plug body. The rotative position of the plug body relative to the socket body is thus determined so that certain ones of the elongated plugs will be received in certain ones of ythe corresponding sockets.

These sockets are illustrated as best seen in FIGURE 4 at 441, 42, 46, 414, 45, and 46 and are -in spaced parallel relationship for receiving the corresponding plugs described in FIGURE 3. The sockets themselves are of uniform cross-sectional area and of a len-gth corresponding to the cross-sectional area and lengths of the corresponding plugs. Each of the sockets is substantially the same and therefore description of one will suffice for all.

Thus, referring to the upper socket 41 in FIGURE 2, there is included a socket contact in the form of a split ring 47 having a split at 48 embedded within the interior wall of the socket and having an exposed circumferential cylindrical portion at an area between the ends of the socket. ABy this arrangement, the ring 47 is capable of circumferential expansion and contraction. The particular ring 47 shown is electrically connected Within the socket body to the insulated wire 22, the various split ring socket contacts in the remaining sockets similarly connecting to the others of the insulated wires extending from the socket body.

In the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 4, to effect an electrical connection between the various insulated plug wires 14, 1'5, 16, 17, 18,

land 19 and the corresponding insulated socket wires 22,

23, 24, 25, 26, and 27, the various plugs are urged into the respective sockets after the polarizing pin 28 and key 29 have been rotatively positioned to be received within the pin receiving opening 39 and keyway 4f). yBecause of the corresponding cross-sectional dimensions of the plugs and sockets, a very snug relation-ship exists so that as the plugs are urged into the respective sockets,

the interior walls of the sockets and the exterior surfaces of the plugs as well as the interior surfaces of the ring contacts 'and exterior surfaces of the plug contacts are wiped clean and dry of any water. Since the various sockets as illustrated in IFIGUKRE 2 .are open at both ends, any water within the sockets will be expelled out the opposite ends of the sockets as the plugs are urged into the sockets.

When the shoulder 36 has abutted a-gainst .the periphery -o-f the various s-ocket openings, the plug contacts such as the contact 3S will be juxtaposed and in engagement with the socket contacts such as the split ring contact 47. Thus, multiple connections between the various insulated wires, as described, are effected substantially simultaneously. The wires are disconnected by simply pulling the plug body from the socket body.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is shown a modified plug and socket body construct-ion wherein there is provided a plug body 419, and socket body 50 connected at a division line 51. As shown, the plug body 49 includes a re-ar tapered portion 52 defining an annular shoulder 53 facing in a direction opposite the engaging portion of the plug body. The tapered' portion 52 merges into insulated plug wires comprising insulation 54 and first and second wires 55 and 56, respectively.

Similarly, the socket body 50 includes a tapered portion 57 defining an annular shoulder 58 facing away from the engaged portion of the socket. The tapered portion 57 merges into insulated socket wires comprising insulation 59 and first and second socket wires 60 and 61 extending away from the socket body as shown. The exterior surfaces of the plug and socket bodies include indented portions such as indicated at 62 and 63 adapted to be aligned and thereby enable fixing of the relative rotative position of the plug body 49 with respect to the socket body 50 by simply feeling the indentations.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, Iin the embodiment illustrated, the plug body 49 includes first and second elongated plugs 64 and 65 extending from the remaining portion of the body to dene an annular shoulder 66. The elongated first plug 64 includes a rigid conductor 67 having a central enlarged portion defining a contact 68 connected to the wire 55 as at 69. The elongated second plug similarly includes a rigid conductor 70 having an enlarged contact 71 connected to the wire 56 as at 72. As in the case of the plugs described in the embodiments of FIGURES 1-4, the cross-sectional areas are substantially uniform throughout substantially the lengths of the plugs.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, the plug body 49 includes a polarizing pin 73 which, as best seen in FIG- URE 7, is offset from the center axis of the plug body.

Referring now to the cross-section of the socket body 50, it will be noted that this body includes first and second elongated` sockets 74 and 75 of uniform cross-sectional area throughout lengths corresponding at least to the lengths of the plugs 64 and 65, respectively. These sockets are provided with open ends as shown at 76 and 77 for the socket 74 and at 78 and 79 for the socket 75. It will be noted that the rear openings 77 and 79 open out on the tapered portion 57 and thus the geometry of these openings is somewhat different from the cross-sectional geometry of the sockets themselves. However, it is only necessary that the sockets have egress means for cornmunication with the exterior of the socket body at portions different from their plug receiving ends 76 and 78.

Suitable first and second socket contacts in the form of split rings such as a split ring 80 having a split 81 for the socket 74 and a split ring 82 having a split S3 for the socket 75 are embedded in the interior walls of the sockets and have inner cylindrical surfaces exposed at areas intermediate the ends of the sockets. By employ-ing split rings as in the other embodiment, the socket contacts are capable -of circumferential expansion and contraction.

The socket body also includes a pin receiving opening indicated in dotted lines at 84 and also opening out the tapered portion 57 as at 85. This pin receiving opening is positioned off the axis of the socket body for receiving the polarizing pin 73 of the plug body when the plugs are properly yoriented relative to the sockets to effect desired connections between the insulated wires 55 and 56 and the insulated wires 60 and 61, respectively. In this position, the indentations 62 and 63 will also be aligned as ill-ustrated in FIGURE 5.

The operation lof the two-plug connector described in FIGURES 5 and 6 is the same insofar as the snug relationship between the plugs and sockets are concerned and the wiping and cleaning of the contacts, as the embodiments of FIGURES 1-4. Also, the features of balance pressure as a consequence of the rear openings of the sockets to the exterior of the socket body and also the provision of an egress means for any water in the socket body are realized.

The particular exterior design of the plug and socket bodies of FIGURES 5 and6, however, is such that a -suitable coupling means may be employed for effectively locking the plug and socket bodies together. Towards this end and with reference to FIGURE 9, there is illustrated a cylindrical plug body collar 86 having a reduced diameter portion S7 defining an internal annular shoulder 88. A suitable engaging means in the form of a pin 89 extends radially inwardly from the front open end of the collar 86 as shown.

Cooperating with the collar 86 is a socket body collar 90 in the form of a cylindrical member having a rear yradially extending flange defining an inner annular shoulder 91. The forward porti-on of the socket body collar 90 includes a bayonet slot as indicated at 92. This bayonet slot is arranged to cooperate with the pin 89 when the collar 90` is rotated from the position illustrated in FIGURE 9.

In operation of the coupling means illust-rated -in FIG- URE 9, the insulated portions 54 and 59 of the wires are passed through the central openings prior to connections 'of the wires to other equipment so that they are loosely disposed adjacent to the tapered portions when the connector is first submerged. After the plug body has' been inserted in the socket body, these collars are then slid upwa-rdly along the tapered portions until the respective inner annular shoulders 88 and 91 seat lon the annular shoulders 53 and 5S of the plug and socket bodies respectively. The pin 89 is then passed into the bayonet slot 92. The plug and socket bodies are thus effectively secured or locked together against any inadvertent pulling apart while underwater.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the present invention has provided a g-reatly improved underwater multiple connector. Not only are all of the various advantages in applicants co-pending application for each of the respective plug connections realized; but, in addition, multiple wire connections can be effected without the neces-sity of multiple contacts on individual plugs. Further, the feature of tactual means for insuring proper indexing lof the plugs in the sockets together with the novel coupling means for effectively securing the plugs within the sockets once they have been properly positioned, provide further advantages in underwater connectors not heretofore available.

Although the multiple connector has been described as having only one contact on each plug and one corresponding split ring in each socket, it is of course possible to provide longitudinally spaced additional plug contacts and split rings on each plug and socket as described in the referred to c-o-pending application and thereby greatly increase the number of possible connections. The provision of several plugs and sockets, however, enables a large number of connections to be made without having to unduly increase the lengths of the plugs and sockets to accommodate such additional contacts.

Further, while a circular cross-section for the plugs is preferred, the cross-sections could be oval or even other shapes since the provision of multple plugs prevents relative rotation of any one plug in its socket when all plugs are inserted.

While the cross-sectional area or diameter of each of the plugs has been definedV as corresponding substantially to the cross-sectional area or internal diameter -of each of the sockets, it is meant by these terms that the dimensions are such as to realize the desired interference type fit or sung fitness configuration sufiicient to provide a complete liuidproofing. Thus, the sockets could be purposely moulded to a slightly smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the plugs, thereby resulting in a force-fit, the internal diameter expanding somewhat as a consequence of the resilient material of the sockets. These very slight differences in diameter or other crosssectional shaped areas are deemed to be encompassed within the statement that the diameters or other areas substantially correspond.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid proof multiple connector comprising, in combination: a plug body including at least two elongated plugs of substantially Iuniform circular cross-sections throughout substantially their lengths and including respectively plug contacts having surface portions exposed in substantially iiush relationship with the remaining exterior surfaces of said plugs intermediate their ends; and a socket body including at least two elongated sockets of substantially uniform circular cross-sections throughout lengths corresponding to the circular cross-sections and lengths of said plugs respectively, and including socket contacts having exposed surfaces at areas of the interior walls of said sockets intermediate their ends, whereby said plugs may be received in said sockets respectively while underwater to effect electrical contact between said plug and socket contacts with the remaining engaging portions of the exterior surfaces of said plugs and interior wall surfaces of said sockets on either side of said contacts excluding water from said contacts.

2. A fluid proof multiple connector according to claim 1, in which said sockets communicate with the exterior of said socket body at portions different from the ends into which said plugs are inserted to provide egress means for water in said sockets as said plugs are urged into said sockets.

3. A fluid proof multiple connector according to claim 1, in which said socket contacts are each in the form of a split ring yhaving an internal cylindrical surface corresponding t-o the cross-section of said plugs, said ring being capable of circumferential expansion and contr-action.

4. An underwater multiple connector comprising, in combination: a plug body including a first elongated plug of a given cross-sectional area throughout substantially its length; a first plug contact embedded in said plug with at least a portion of its peripheral surface exposed at an area intermediate the ends of said plug; a second elongated plug extending in parallel spaced relationship to said first plug and including a second plug contact embedded therein with atleast a portion of its peripheral surface exposed at an area intermediate the ends of said second plug; first and second insulated plug wires electrically connected within said plug body to said first and second contacts respectively and extending away from -said plug body; a socket body including a first elongated socket having a cross-sectional area throughout a length substantially equal to the length of said first plug and corresponding to the cross-sectional area of said first plug; a first socket contact embedded in the interior wall of said first socket with at least a portion of its surface exposed at an area intermediate the ends of said first socket; a second elongated socket in spaced parallel relationship with said first socket and having a cross-sectional area throughout substantially a length substantially equal to the length of said second plug and c-orresponding to the cross-sectional area of 'said second plug so that said rst nad second plugs are receivable in said rst and second sockets simultaneously, said second socket including a second socket contact embedded in the interior wall of said second socket with at least a portion of its surface exposed at an area intermediate the ends of said second Socket; and rst and second insulated socket wires electrically connected within said socket body to said rst and second socket contacts respectively and extending away from said socket body, whereby when said plugs are urged into said sockets While underwater, the exterior surfaces of said plugs and interior walls of said sockets move past each other in wiping engagement Iso that when said plug contacts are positioned juxtaposed said socket contacts to effect electrical connections respectively between said insulated plug wires and insulated socket wires, water is excluded from said contacts by the engaging portions of said plugs and interior walls on either sides of said contacts.

5. An underwater multiple connector according to claim 4, in which said plug body includes additional elongated plugs and plug contacts electrically connected respectively to additional insulated plug wires within said plug body and in which said socket body includes additional elongated sockets and socket contacts electrically connected respectively to additional insulated socket wires, said additional plug, plug contacts, sockets, yand socket contacts being similar in construction to said iirst and second plugs, plug contacts, sockets and socket contacts and positioned to cooperate with each other to effect multiple connections of more than two pairs of Wires.

6. An underwater multiple connector according to claim 4, in which said sockets are all open at both en-ds, said insulated socket wires extending laterally from said socket body so that said plugs may be inserted into either of the open ends of said sockets.

7. An underwater multiple connector according to claim 4, in which each of said plugs includes an elongated rigid conductor extending throughout a major portion of its length, each plug contact being connected to a corresponding insulated plug wire through the medium of said rigid conductor whereby rigidity is lent to said plugs.

8. -An underwater multiple connector according to claim 4, in which each of said socketl contacts is in 4the form of .a split ring having an interior cylindrical contact surface, said ring being capable of circumferential expansion and contraction.

9. An underwater multiple connector according to claim 4, in which said plug body includes a polarizing pin yand said socket body includes a pin receiving opening positioned such that said pin is receivable in said pin receiving opening only when said plugs are positioned to be received in given corresponding sockets.

10. An underwater multiple connector according to claim 9, in which said polarizing pin and pin receiving opening are positioned olf-center from the axis of said plug and socket bodies.

11. An underwater multiple connector according to claim 10, in which said plug body and socket body include indented portions on their exterior surfaces respectively providing a tactual indication of the relative rotative position of said plug yand said socket.

12. An underwater m-ultiple connector according to claim 4, in which said plug body includes an annular exterior plug body shoulder facing in a direction opposite from the direction of said plugs, and in which said socket body includes an annular exterior socket body shoulder r.facing in a direction opposite from the ends of said sockets into which said plugs are inserted; and a cylindrical plug )body collar adapted to surround said plug body and including an internal annular shoulder adapted to seat on said plug body shoulder; and a cylindrical socket body collar adapted to surround said socket -body an-d including an internal annular shoulder adapted to Seat on said socket body shoulder, said plug body collar and socket body collar having cooperating inter-engaging means for holding said collars together whereby said plugs are secured in said sockets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,597 10/1929 Spear 339-60 1,901,040 3/1933y Peroni et al 339-182 FOREIGN PATENTS 892,801 3/1962 Great Britain.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner. J. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLUID PROOF MULTIPLE CONNECTOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A PLUG BODY INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO ELONGATED PLUGS OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTIONS THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY THEIR LENGTHS AND INCLUDING RESPECTIVELY PLUG CONTACTS HAVING SURFACE PORTIONS EXPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REMAINING EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID PLUGS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS; AND A SOCKET BODY INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO ELONGATED THROUGHOF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTIONS THROUGHOUT LENGTHS CORRESPONDING TO THE CIRCUIT CROSS-SECTIONS AND LENGTHS OF SAID PLUGS RESPECTIVELY, AND INCLUDING SOCKET CONTACTS HAVING EXPOSED SURFACES AT AREAS OF THE INTERIOR WALLS OF SAID SOCKETS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, WHEREBY SAID PLUGS MAY BE RECEIVED IN SAID SOCKETS RESPECTIVELY WHILE UNDERWATER TO EFFECT ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN SAID PLUG AND SOCKET CONTACTS WITH THE REMAINING ENGAGING PORTIONS OF THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID PLUGS AND INTERIOR WALL SURFACES OF SAID SOCKETS ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID CONTACTS EXCLUDING WATER FROM SAID CONTACTS. 